Electric light socket and switch



May 31, 1938. Q A, ADAMS 2,119,146

ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKET AND SWITCH Filed Deo. fr, 1955 im@ @Zw/9.

Patented May 31, 1938 UNITI-:o s'InbxrIss4 PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combined electric light bulb socket and switch and has for its principal object the provision of a device of this character in which the body portion, or what may be termed the casing, is formed entirely of exible rubber which prevents breaking by dropping or the like and at the same time prevents danger of shock to the user as no metal parts are exposed.

A further object of the invention consists in forming the body or casing of flexible rubber and including in said formation members adapted to be engaged for closing the contact members of the switch or releasing the same, said closing or opening of the contacts being accomplished by flexing of the body or casing.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described in which the threads forreceiving the electric light bulb shank are molded in the body or casing as` an integral part thereof and in which the conductor members are embedded within the body or casing, one of the conductor members being formed with a portion Cooperating with the molded threads.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel details of construction, and arrangement of parts, described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it will be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a plan.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view looking in the direction of the threaded socket; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing I indicates the body portion or casing formed of exible rubber, provided at one end with the bead 2 to receive the flexible rubber cap 3 and at its opposite end with a socket 4 in which are molded the threads 5, the socket receiving the threaded shank of an electric light bulb, not shown, in the usual manner. The cap 3 is formed with a passage 6 through which extend the wires 1, the end of one of the wires being connected by means of the screw 8 to the metal member 9 embedded in the rubber body portion as shown more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawing, while the other wire is connected by means of the screw IU to the metal strip or plate II also embedded in the rubber body, the member II being of elongated form and extending within the socket 4 with its end terminating', as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 310i the drawing, within the socket or in other words not extending to the end of the body portion or casing. 'I'hat end of theelongated strip I I which extends into the socket4 is formed with the ribs or raised portions I2 `which form continuations of the threads 5 of the socket. The metal member 9 and strip II are preferably of brass vand in electrical contact with the metal member 9 by welding, solder or otherwise is a metal strip I3 which, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2 is embedded in the member forming the body or casing and at its inner end is bent at right angles to provide the extension I4 formed on its end with the hook I5 for a purpose to be later described. The metal members or strips 9 and I I act as conductors.

The body portion or casing `is formed interiorly with the longitudinally extending recess I6 and extending transversely from this recess and communicating therewith is a second recess or passage I 'I in which projects the extension I4 of the strip I3.

Positioned at the inner surface or bottom of the socket 4 is the metal contact member I8 having the extension I9 projecting inwardly through the body portion with its end projecting into the recess or passage I 'I and bent at an angle as shown at 2Il to provide a hook portion adapted to be engaged by the hook portion I5 in a manner to be later described, the hook portions I5 and 20 serving as Contact members for closing a circuit. A libre plate ZI is positioned, as shown, Within the recess or passage I'I and the extension I9 of the Contact member I8 passes through this plate and the plate in itself acts as a bearing surface for engagement by the hook I5 on the extension I4 of the strip I3 and thereby prevents wear of the rubber from the body.

Molded as a part of the body or casing I are the raised or projecting portions 22 and 23 forming buttons for the operation of the switch in a manner to be later described.

Itis thought that the construction will be clearly understood from the above detailed description. While the combined socket and switch .is primarily intended for use on the end of a light cord or the like it will nevertheless be understood that it might equally as well be used in any place where a light bulb socket or switch is desired and by presenting no metal surfaces for engagement by the hand or body of the user it will be understood that danger of shock is eliminated. A device of the character described will be of considerable advantage in use in machine shops or garages where it `is-often necessary to hang the light over metal parts of a, machine, automobile or the like, and where metal portions of the socket or switch are exposed there is danger of shock or short circuits. With my construction only rubber will engage any of the surfaces of the machines or automobiles orA the like and only rubber surfaces will be engaged by the user. Therefore, as previously stated, there will be no danger whatsoever of shocks or short circuits. The invention herein set forth is not limited to the specific form of socket illustrated and described but can be used wherever electric sockets are to be opened and closed. 'I'he body portion I as well as the cap'3 may be formed in any suitable manner such as by molding and, if desired, the body may be molded in two halves, the metal contact members and connections positioned in any suitable manner, and the two halves then vulcanized together. However, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to any particular manner of forming the body or cap and the parts may be assembled in such a manner as may be found most convenient.

Normally the parts are in the positions shown more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawing and the circuit will be broken so that the bulb will not be lighted. When it is desired to light the bulb the user will press upon the projection or button 22 thereby flexing the side wall of the body or casing I so as to move the hooked end I5 of the extension I4 of the strip I3 inwardly to engage the hooked end 20 of the extension I9 of the contact I8 and this will close the circuit, it being understood that a contact on the end of the threaded shank of the light bulb, not shown. will engage the contact I8. The hooked end I5 will remain in engagement with the hooked end 20 as long as it is desired that the light remain on and the tendency of the wall of the body or casing to return to its normal position will hold the hooked end I5 into tight engagement with the hooked end 20. It will be understood that the recess I6 in the body or casing permits a portion of the wall to be flexed when pressure is applied to the projections or buttons 22 or 23. When it is desired to break the circuit, or to release the hooked end I5 from the hooked end 20 the button or projection 23 will be pressed inwardly to move the wall of the body or casing into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and such movement and positioning will swing the extension I4 of the strip I3 at an angle, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and disengage the hooked end I5 from the hooked end 20. Then as pressure is removedfromtheprojection or button 23 the Wall of the body will return to its original position pulling with it the hooked end I5 and return the same to its normal position shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing. When the hook member I5 is engaged with the hook 20, as previously stated, the circuit is closed, current passing from onelof the wires 1 through the member 9, strip I3, extension I4, hook I5,hook 20, extension I9, and button I8 to the shank of the light bulb and from said shank through the strip or member II back into the other wire 1.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. An electric switch comprising a body portion of readily flexible insulating material including an interior block and an exterior housing forV completely enclosing switch elements,- the block and housing being formed for the accommodation of co-acting switch elements, and said switch elements being confined within the housing and tion between one of said wire terminals and switch elements.

2. A combined switch and socket comprising a housing formed of readily flexible insulating material, said housing having an interiorly threaded recess at one end to receive a lamp bulb shank and a support positioned adjacent the rear end of the recess, said support being formed to provide a space adjacent the wall of the housing to permit flexing of the housing at that point, a switch member carried by the support and having a portion adapted to be engaged by the center contact of the lamp bulb shank, a switch member carried by the housing and having an extension adapted to be engaged with the switch member carried by the support until disengaged therefrom or to be disengaged from said switch member until re-engaged therewith, all adapted to be done by a moment's flexing of the wall of the housing, a contact member embedded in the housing and having a portion adapted to be engaged by the side contact of the lamp bulb shank, and feed wires connected to the switch member carried by the housing and to the contact member embedded in thehousing.

3. Av combined switch and socket comprisingy a housing formed of readily flexible insulating material, said housing having an interiorly threaded recess at one end to receive a lamp bulb shank and a support positioned adjacent the inner end of the recess, said support being formed to provide a space adjacent the wall of the housing to permit flexing of the housing at that point, a switch member carried by the support and having a portion adapted to be engaged by the center contact member of the lamp bulb shank, a switch member carried by the housing and having an extension adapted to be engaged with or disengaged from the switch member carried by the support as the wall of the housing is flexed, a contact member embedded in the housing and having' a threaded portion coinciding with the threads of the recess in the housing and adapted to be engaged by the side contact member of the lamp bulb shank, and feed wires connected to the switch member carried by the housing and the contact member embedded in the housing.

4. An electric switch, comprising a body portion of readily iiexible insulating material, including an interior block and an exterior housing for completely enclosing coacting switch elements, the block and housing being formed for the accommodation of such switch elements, switch elements confined within the housing and mounted on the body portion, said elements having two normal rest positions, one in which said elements are in electrical contact and the other in which said elements are out of electrical contact, circuit terminals at one end of said housing and leading thereinto for cooperation with said elements in completing a circuit, and a. part of said housing upon iiexure cooperating with said elements to move said elements from either of saidrest po sitlons to the other.

` CHARLES A. ADAMS. 

